The Good Week | July 2, 2026

For those of us still waiting for our invitations to Taylor and Travis’s wedding, we found a few other ways to fill the July 4th weekend and the weeks ahead.

As always, we hope this issue helps you find something that brings you joy, nudges you to try something new, or gives you a fresh appreciation for Bethesda, Potomac, and the nearby neighborhoods we get to call home.

Have an idea we should know about? Tried something new because of The Good Week? Reply and tell us. We’d love to hear what you’re finding, loving, and adding to your own local list.

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Art, music, performances, and a few reasons to spend the evening out.

Rockville Musical Theatre brings Sister Act to the stage with gospel music, disco energy, big ensemble numbers, and the familiar story of Deloris Van Cartier, a nightclub singer hiding out in a convent after witnessing a crime. The musical features original music by Alan Menken, whose credits include Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, and Little Shop of Horrors. $26
👉 See the show

Six comics compete in a spontaneous comedy game show built around improv, trivia, and crowd participation. The format mixes traditional and unconventional games, which means the night can go in almost any direction. Doors open at 6 pm. $17.
👉 Grab a seat

DC author Jessica Goldstein visits Wonderland Books to discuss her debut novel, Retro, about an out-of-work actress who takes a job as a tour guide for an ultra-luxury time travel company, then discovers her trips to the past could disrupt her present. Goldstein will be in conversation with Chris Richards, writer and former pop music critic for The Washington Post.
👉 Learn more

Curated by Wanjin Kim, Beyond Your Boundaries brings together Waverly Street Gallery artists working outside the styles, mediums, and approaches they’re best known for. The exhibition invites visitors to see what happens when artists challenge their own habits, move beyond familiar methods, and make room for experimentation.

Kim brings a deep background in sculpture, metalsmithing, and craft to the exhibition. She studied sculpture at Pratt Institute and metalsmithing at Cranbrook Academy of Art, and now teaches jewelry, metalsmithing, and craft at Montgomery College in Rockville. An opening reception will be held Friday, July 10, from 6–8 pm.
👉 See what’s on view

Round House Theatre is celebrating its 50th anniversary with 50 for 50, a season-long series of free experiences that opens up more of what makes this Bethesda theater special. One of the DC area’s leading professional theaters, Round House has built its reputation on bold productions, new plays, modern classics, musicals, and education programs that reach more than 5,000 students each year.

The anniversary lineup goes beyond performances, with staged readings of Round House favorites, backstage tours, tech rehearsal look-ins, open classes, lobby events, and free ticket drawings for selected mainstage shows. It is a chance to see the theater from the inside, revisit pieces of its history, and connect with the artists and creative process behind the work.
👉 Follow the anniversary lineup

Food experiences, tastings, and classes that make the week revolve around something delicious

Start with wine and warm focaccia, then roll up your sleeves for the main event. In this hands-on class at Pinstripes, guests will stretch dough, choose toppings, and bake their own pizza with guidance from the chef.

Stick around to enjoy what your creation, mingle with fellow guests, and make it a full night with additional food or drinks available for purchase. $40.
👉 Reserve your spot

Hands-on classes and social activities where you can learn something new or step a little outside your comfort zone.

Precipice Improv Theater’s beginner-friendly workshop is designed for adults who have never tried improv before, but it is open to all experience levels. The class uses playful theater games in a supportive, no-fail environment, with exercises that build toward scene work and performance games by the end of each session.

Students can start any week, drop in for a single afternoon class, or buy an eight-class bundle to use over time. $240 for eight classes, with a half-price single-class option available.
👉 Try a class

Talk Tiles To Me is bringing American Mahjong to Sisters Thai in Potomac this month, with a few ways to get in the game. New to Mahjong? The July 13 Mahjong 101 session walks beginners through the tiles, materials, rules, and a full game, making it a good starting point if you’ve been curious but haven’t known where to begin.

Already know the basics? The July 27 Guided Play session offers instructor support as you build confidence, read the NMJL card, and work through real-time decisions at the table. There are also Social Play sessions for players who are ready to play independently and want a relaxed night of food, community, and Mahjong at Sisters Thai.
👉 Book a seat at the table

After last week’s look at Strathmore’s December holiday lineup, here’s something a little more immediate for anyone already feeling festive. Hammer & Stain is bringing the holiday spirit into July with a full day of Christmas in July workshops, where you can choose the project that fits your mood.

Options include watercolor painting, custom sea glass trees, wooden holiday signs, and ceramics, with afternoon and evening sessions available. Bring a friend, lean into the off-season cheer, and make something you’ll be happy to bring back out when the season actually rolls around. $25–$72
👉 Choose your workshop

This hands-on cooking class brings Moroccan flavors to the kitchen with chicken tagine with apricots and almonds, chickpea and carrot salad, and oranges with dates and cinnamon honey. Chef Tisha of Versatile Catering leads the class, drawing on African, Caribbean, and global flavors in her made-from-scratch cooking. Participants prepare the recipes with the chef, then sit down to enjoy the meal together. As of publication, 5 spots remain. $55.
👉 Register for the class

Move your body, get outside, and stay active this week.

If your usual workout could use more rhythm, this reggaeton cardio class brings Latin dance energy to a Saturday morning sweat session. Expect upbeat music, easy-to-follow movement, and a cardio format designed to build stamina while keeping things fun. $17
👉 Save your spot

Puppy Yoga Club is bringing a 60-minute Puppy Adventure to Pink Moon Studio in Bethesda. Each session starts with a 30-minute all-level yoga flow surrounded by playful puppies, followed by 30 minutes of cuddles, photos, and puppy playtime.

The puppies may join the flow, wander around, or decide that nap time is the real workout, with the session adapting to their energy and comfort. No yoga experience is needed, just a willingness to stretch, smile, and maybe have a puppy steal the spotlight.
👉 Book your puppy adventure

Bethesda’s Yappy Hour returns with an enclosed pop-up dog park, live music from Angie Miller, and a few perks for both pups and their people. Local animal hospitals Benson, Livewell, and BondVet will be onsite with activities and giveaways, while Pisco y Nazca sells ceviche, Peruvian beer, wine, and more.
👉 Bring your pup to the plaza

Earlier picks still ahead — and still worth catching.

🍸 A Delightfully Deadly Night at the Theater — July 2–Aug. 23 — A Tony-winning musical about ambition, inheritance, and a very inconvenient line of succession at Olney Theatre Center in Olney.

🏃 Red, White, and Blue 5K — Sat, July 4, 8 am — Start Independence Day with a community run/walk near the Potomac Library, complete with chip timing, a 7:30 am opening ceremony, and a commemorative cooling towel for finishers.

📷 Slow Down With Mindful Photography — Sun, July 5, 3–5 pm — A one-day workshop at Emma’s Art Studio in Bethesda focused on slowing down, looking more closely, and creating images with personal meaning.

🌿 Learn the Art of Kokedama — Tue, July 7 — A hands-on plant workshop where you’ll make your own moss-wrapped hanging plant at Rewild in Potomac.

🧘 Start Wednesday With a Morning Flow — Wednesdays through Aug. 12, 8:30–9:30 am — A gentle outdoor yoga series designed to start the day with movement, breath, and calm at Kensington Cabin Local Park in Kensington.

🫖 Take Tea in a Historic Manor — Sat, July 11, 2–4 pm — Afternoon tea with sandwiches, pastries, fruit, and a historical twist at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park in Sandy Spring.

🧘 Sunset Yoga at Lake Needwood — Mon evenings, July 13–Aug. 10, 7–8 pm — A beginner-friendly yoga series on the water at Lake Needwood in Rockville, with no registration or experience required.

🍸 Embers & Elixirs Cocktail Class — Fri, July 17, 6:30–9 pm — A smoky, summery cocktail class with BBQ-inspired small plates at Summer House in North Bethesda.

🖼️ What’s So Funny? — Now through July 19 — Two Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonists fill Amy Kaslow Gallery in Bethesda with sharp visual commentary on America at 250.

🎨 Abstract Painting With Gold Leaf, Glitter, and Glass — Fridays through July 24 — A beginner- and intermediate-friendly class at VisArts in Rockville focused on bold color, texture, shine, and experimentation.

🧵 Contemporary Art Quilts — On view through July 31 — Connecting with Nature brings contemporary quilts, hand-dyed fabrics, and bold textile techniques to The Mansion at Strathmore in North Bethesda.

🎶 Strathmore’s Free Lawn Concerts — Wednesdays through Aug. 12, 7:30 pm — Free outdoor concerts at Strathmore’s Gudelsky Gazebo Stage in North Bethesda, with a summer lineup spanning flamenco-pop, Americana rock, bluegrass, Creole roots, powerhouse vocals, and UkeFest.

🎹 Art, Music, and Activism at Glenstone — On view now — Andrea Bowers’ Petra Kelly’s Revolutionary Piano turns a museum artwork into a participatory experience at Glenstone in Potomac, with visitors and pianists invited to activate the piece through music.

🎄 Strathmore’s Holiday Lineup Is Here — December 2026 — Holiday concerts ranging from Celtic Christmas music to Broadway favorites and big band classics at Strathmore in North Bethesda.

If you stop by any of this week’s spots, let them know you heard about it in The Good Week.

If something landed well—or if we missed a place you think deserves attention—tell us at [email protected].

If you’re a local business interested in advertising or sponsoring a future issue, reach out to [email protected].

And if you know someone who’d appreciate a little local intel on Thursdays, forward this along.

See you next week.

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